Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Jun 11

I went in-depth here on Bridgit Mendler and Northwood Space. There's a lot of bad news out there, but this is one of the most uplifting stories I've reported on in awhile.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

She was a Disney star with platinum records, but Bridgit Mendler gave it up to change the world

“The space industry has a ground bottleneck, and the problem is going to get worse.”…

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Geoff Brumfiel @gbrumfiel.bsky.social · Jun 3

NASA to end work in nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion for deep space exploration.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

Some parts of Trump’s proposed budget for NASA are literally draconian

“That’s exactly the kind of thing that NASA should be concentrating its resources on.”…

arstechnica.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · May 7

Major shakeup at NASA's premiere science facility. Effective June 1, Laurie Leshin is resigning as director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · May 7

Scientists, would you consider the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to be a success? Is the tracking layer upgrade worth it? If you don't want to comment publicly, feel free to message me instead. Not looking for on-the-record quotes.

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · May 5

Did you know that SpaceX asked the FBI to investigate the ULA sniper theory back in 2016? Until last week, I did not.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

SpaceX pushed “sniper” theory with the feds far more than is publicly known

“It came out of nowhere, and it was really violent.”…

arstechnica.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Apr 28

Don Pettit wants to go back to space again. And you know what, he should.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

What’s it like to be 70 years old in space? “All those little aches and pains heal up.”

“When the flight docs say I’m ready to go back, I’m ready to do it.”…

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · Apr 21

Despite recent comments from the Secretary of Transportation, if Katy Perry wants to call herself an astronaut, there's no one who can tell her she's not.

Trump official to Katy Perry and Bezos’ fiancée: “You cannot identify as an astronaut”

It turns out the FAA now takes no role in identifying who is an astronaut.

arstechnica.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Apr 21

Heavy rain after a long period of dry weather is so cathartic.

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Jonathan McDowell @planet4589.bsky.social · Apr 19

Soyuz MS-26 has begun its return to Earth, undocking from the ISS Rassvet module at about 2157:33 UTC Apr 19 with crewmembers Ovchinin, Vagner and Pettit

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Matt Lanza @mattlanza.bsky.social · Apr 16

Losing 200 employees to early resignations with no sign of backfilling will be a detriment to public safety nationally.

Jami Boettcher @jamiboettch.bsky.social · Apr 16

Just in: Additional losses due to early resignations & retirements are 870 NOAA wide & 200 NWS. It is crucial to understand these positions will NOT be back filled for the foreseeable future. NOAA’s mission (operations & research) supports both public safety and the economy. God help us. 🙏

Dr. Robin Tanamachi 🌪️ @tornatrix.bsky.social · Apr 16

Let’s recap: Over the last two months, hundreds of probationary NOAA employees were fired, then un-fired and immediately placed on administrative leave, then fired again. This is not a way to build a sustainable workforce, nor maintain morale within the existing one. The cruelty is the point.

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Apr 11

This really is an extinction level event for NASA's science programs.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA

“This would decimate American leadership in space.”…

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Maria Varmazis @varmaz.is · Apr 2

I love love love this shoutout to the Mission Control team from Wilmore here in this great @sciguyspace.bsky.social piece: arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

Wilmore: "Thankfully, these folks are heroes. And please print this. What do heroes look like? Well, heroes put their tank on and they run into a fiery building and pull people out of it. That's a hero. Heroes also sit in their cubicle for decades studying their systems, and knowing their systems front and back. And when there is no time to assess a situation and go and talk to people and ask, 'What do you think?' they know their system so well they come up with a plan on the fly. That is a hero. And there are several of them in Mission Control."

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Apr 1

You probably won't believe how desperate Starliner's flight to the space station got last summer ...

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 26

United Launch Alliance gets some great news: Vulcan is officially certified for national security launches.

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 25

What’s going on with Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA?

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

Momentum seems to be building for Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator

“We believe that Jared Isaacman is uniquely qualified to lead NASA.”…

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Jonathan O'Callaghan @astrojonny.bsky.social · Mar 24

Hi space people, I'm looking for non-NASA experts to comment on the MAV portion of Mars Sample Return, and why it's so challenging to take off from Mars.

If that's you, or you know someone, do get in touch. jdaoca[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks!

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Sarah Hörst @planetdr.bsky.social · Mar 24

NASA started terminating grants :(

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Kevin M. Gill @kevinmgill.bsky.social · Mar 23

Sol 1453 (tosol!) WATSON closeups of rock near the Mars Perseverance Rover. White balanced.

flic.kr/p/2qTv2F3
flic.kr/p/2qTtR8Q

Rock and sand.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Kevin M. Gill

Rocks and sand.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Kevin M. Gill

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Andrew @nomadd.bsky.social · Mar 20

Thank you to @sciguyspace.bsky.social for putting words to the “ick” I’ve been feeling about the language around bringing the Starliner astronauts home.

https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/03/can-nasa-remain-nonpartisan-when-basic-spaceflight-truths-are-shredded/

Can NASA remain nonpartisan when basic spaceflight truths are shredded? - Ars Technica

“Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!”…

arstechnica.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 21

Founder and ceo is accurate.

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Oliver Morton, Eater of Sun @eaterofsun.bsky.social · Mar 21

A giant step back for womankind?

On February 28th the main Artemis page at nasa. gov read as follows
web.archive.org/web/20250313...

text from https://web.archive.org/web/20250313041133/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/artemis/
which reads:
Artemis
With the Artemis campaign, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.

We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon. Then, we will use what we learn on and around the Moon to take the next giant leap: sending the first astronauts to Mars.

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 19

You sit on a throne of lies.

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

Can NASA remain nonpartisan when basic spaceflight truths are shredded?

“Let’s bring them home NOW, Sir!”…

arstechnica.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 13

Then they came for the Brookies ...

arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...

“Ten years ago this was embraced by everyone, and seen as a win-win for all.”…

arstechnica.com

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Reposted by Eric Berger

Jonathan O'Callaghan @astrojonny.bsky.social · Mar 11

Somewhat ridiculously, Saturn now has 128 new moons, bring its total to 274.

These are mostly tiny rocks, a few miles across, that orbit the planet backwards – but they might be evidence of a recent smashup in the planet's orbit.

Story by me in The New York Times

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/s...

Saturn Gains 128 New Moons, Bringing Its Total to 274 (Gift Article)

The objects around the ringed planet are tiny, but some of them may have formed relatively recently in the solar system’s history.

www.nytimes.com

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Eric Berger @sciguyspace.bsky.social · Mar 10

Can't win so I don't try.

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